Texas Govt. 2

interest groups

an organization that seeks to influence government and government officials (policy)

political parties

organization that seek to gain peaceful control of government (winning elections)

iron triangles int. group

electoral support to congress, congressional support via lobby to bureaucracy

iron triangle congress

funding & political support to bureaucracy, friendly legislation & oversight int. groups

iron triangle bureaucracy

policy choices & execution to congress, low regulation special favors to int. groups

NAACP v. Alabama

NAACP was trying to operate in Alabama. The state started to demand their membership list which had their names addresses and phone numbers. The NAACP thought it would expose members to harassment.

what was the decision for NAACP v. Alabama

9-0 decision they have the right to assembly. First Amendment.

Interest Group activities

mobilization, sway public opinion, build coalitions, financial contributions, electioneering, lobbying.

Mobilize

go vote!

Sway public opinion

what the public thinks about an issue at any point in time

coalitions/alliances

interest group (up), pressure (up)

Financial Contribution

int group has fees which they officially register, regulate, fund-raising regulations they campaign it and invest the money into parties or politicians they agree with

Electioneering (rare)

prefers to have someone win an election

Lobbying

influencing lawmakers or government officials to support or oppose specific legislation, regulations, or policies

Types of Interest groups

economic, social, professional

economic motive

gather financial gain for their members. (private good)

social motive

gain equality, representation, or protection, preferable for their members. (public/private good)

professional motive

lobbying/benefits for members- occupation. (select private good)

Regulation of Interest Groups in Texas

Texas Ethics Commission

Texas Ethics Commission

publish financial contributions over $1,000 donations under the amount fall under “dark money” and hears complaints

Texas Legislature Setup

Bicameral

house of representatives & Texas Senate

how many members are in the Tx house of representatives

150 members

How long do Tx house representatives serve

2-year terms (140 days)

how many members are in the Tx. Senate

31 members

How long do members of the Tx. Senate serves

4-years (half elected every 2 years) (280 days)

Redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts. It typically occurs every 10 years

gerrymandering

manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a specific political party, group, or incumbent

Reynolds v. Sims context

Alabama’s state legislative districts were unequally populated, giving rural voters significantly more power than urban voter. Voters sued that this violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Reynolds v. Sims results

“states with bicameral legislature districts must be relatively equal based on population.”

Mclennan county representatives

Pat Curry & Angelia Orr

mclennan county senator

Brian Birdwell

speaker of Texas House

D. Burrows

Legislative Duties

law-making (propose bills, vote to pass bills) simple resolution (concurrent resolution)

Qualifications for Texas House

+21, state resident for 2 years

Qualification of Texas Senate

+26 year old, state resident for 5 years.

Qualification for Texas Governor

+30 year olds, u.s. citizens, state resident for 5+ years

Texas Governor

Greg Abbott

who succeeds the governor

lieutenant governor

who succeeds after lieutenant governor

President Pro Tempore

who succeeds after president Pro Tempore

speaker of the house

who succeeds after speaker of the house

attorney general

who succeeds after attorney general

Tx. Court of Appeals

Powers of the Governor

appoint/removal, commander-in-chief, and state budget

Lieutenant Govenor

Dan Patrick

Plural Executive

is the weakening of Tx. governor gives Tx. governor powers to other roles in executive officers

Special Sessions

30 day maximum were only the governor can call this type of session. The Governor sets the agenda of the session.+

Secretary of State

Jane Nelson

Attorney General

Ken Paxton

Comptroller

Glenn Hegar

Commissioner of Agriculture

Sid Miller

Civil Law

non-criminal, contracts

Criminal Law

misdemeanors and felonies

Misdemeanor

minor

Felonies

serious

how much turns misdemeanor into felony

$1,000

Jurisdiction

“boundary” geographic- police departments. who will take the case?- courts

original jurisdiction

the court hears the case first

Supreme courts of Texas

Texas Supreme court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Court of Appeals (Waco : Tenth Court)

→district (regional) courts

district (regional) courts

→county courts

county courts

municipal courts or justices of peace courts

Stereotypical criminal

young, male, urban, low education, socio-economic status, occupation, drug user, marital status, and race

Death penalty

government-sanctioned execution of a person as punishment for a crime, typically murder

Death Penalty cases

Furman v. Georgia, Gregg v. Georgia, Jurek v. Texas, Coker v. Georgia

Furman v. Georgia context

Breaks into a house and the owners come home. He runs down stairwell to leave and trips with the gun. The gun goes off and kills the homeowner.

Furman v. Georgia

Georgia had a law that is a criminal kills

Gregg v. Georgia

rewrote state death penalty law reinstated the death penalty in fed. govt

Jurek v. Texas

reinstates death penalty for states

Coker v. Georgia context

He breaks into a house of a couple that is asleep and goes to garage to find rope. He ties the man and sexually assaults the women and physically assaults both to near death. He admits to it all

Coker v. Georgia

established that the death penalty for the crime of rape is unconstitutional under the 8th amendment (cruel and unusual punishment)

Juries

grand jury, trial juries

Qualifications for Voting (de jure)

1. Native-born or Naturalized U.S. citizen

2. 18 years of age

3. resident of state at least 30 days prior to election

4. resident of are cover by election on day

5. registered voter

6. not a convicted felon

7. not “non compos mentis

factors that influence voter turnout (de facto)

1. education

2. income

3. age

4. race and ethnicity

5. interest in politics

de jure

by law or legally recognized

de facto

in fact or in practice

Voter Turnout Frequency Presidental election

51-55 %

voter turnout frequency midterm elections

31-35%

voter turnout frequency state elections

20-25%

voter turnout frequency local/county elections

12%

voter turnout frequency primary elections

5-10%

Historical Obstacles to Voting

history, literacy test, poll tax, white primary, racial gerrymandering

15th amendment

prohibits the federal and state governments from denying a citizen the right to vote based on race, color, previous condition of servitude

19th Amendment

granted women the right to vote

24th Amendment

prohibits poll taxes in federal elections

26th Amendment

established voting age to 18 instead of 21

Harper v. Virgina Board of Elections

abolished poll taxes in state elections

Hill v. Stone

case were excluding non-property owners from voting on bond issues violated the equal protection clause

Smith v. Allwright

Struck down racial discrimination in primary elections. Helped dismantle white primary system in the south.

Shaw v. Reno context

North Carolina submitted redistricting plan that created one majority-Black congressional district. The U.S department of Justice rejected it, arguing it didn’t do enough to allow black voters to elect representatives.

Shaw v. Reno

racial gerrymandering is subject to strict scrutiny

Grand jury

12 members randomly selected serve length of district court’s term (summer: 3 months Fall: 3-6 months) secret society (hotels cut off from the internet and tv) serious crimes felonies, misdemeanors, and capital murder